Demetri Mitchell injury a 'massive blow', says Exeter City boss Gary Caldwell

Demetri Mitchell was able to walk off the field after his injury on Tuesday

Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell says Demetri Mitchell's knee injury is a 'massive blow' for the League One side.

Mitchell tore an anterior cruciate ligament against Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday and is set to undergo surgery next week.

"He's going to be out for the season with a really bad injury, which is massive blow," Caldwell said.

"I really feel for him, he's had a fantastic time since he came here, and a great start to this season."

Mitchell was hurt in the first half of the 3-2 loss to the Championship side in the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie, robbing the Grecians of one of their best attacking threats.

"He just rocked his knee as he landed and then it's a really serious injury," Caldwell added.

"It was very innocuous and that's the way things have been going this year.

"Fingers crossed he can get back quick for his career and hopefully he'll get the surgery next week, hopefully that goes well and he can work on his rehab from there."

In Mitchell's absence Exeter slipped to a 10th defeat in 12 matches as they lost 2-0 at home to Wigan in the FA Cup first round.

Caldwell says it is important that his team - who were top of League One in September - can get over their slump as they prepare to travel to fellow strugglers Fleetwood Town next week.

"Although it's a terrible run we can't look at everything and say everything's bad," he told BBC Radio Devon.

"It's clear what is bad, we have to improve in the final third, we have to improve defensively.

"We can't keep conceding goals, we have to get clean sheets like we did at the start of the season to give us something to build on.

"It's very clear between me and the staff what we need to work on and we need to support the players through that period and get back to winning ways quickly."